Storyline

Returning to Fort Lincoln, Captain Benson learns of Custer's defeat at the Little Big Horn. At the inquiry as Custer's Officers blame Custer for the defeat, Benson tries to defend him. But Benson was suspiciously absent at the time of the battle and is now despised by the troops. So when an order to retrieve the bodies from the battlefield arrives, Benson volunteers for the dangerous mission of returning back into Indian territory. Written by
Maurice VanAuken <mvanauken@a1access.net>

Technical Specs

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Goofs

As Corporal Morrison (Harry Carey Jr.) saddles "Dandy", LT Col Custer's second mount, he puts on an English saddle. US Calvary adopted "McClellan" saddles which remained in service through World War II. This was the wrong saddle for the movie. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Capt. Tom Benson:
We'll be able to see the fort from the top of the next rise.
[Tom and Martha ride a little farther]
Capt. Tom Benson:
There she is - Fort Lincoln, the base of the finest cavalry regiment in the country - and our home.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening credits: Capt. Benson was returning with his future bride, to his post commanded by the gallant Indian fighter Colonel Custer, who had prepared the famous 7th for all out war with the Sioux. See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

User Reviews

Yes, I know the disclaimer in the opening credits says there is no relationship between the film characters and events and real persons and events, but I think such disclaimers in films that obviously portray real persons are a cheap cop-out.

This screenplay is so badly written it should be in the comedy genre. We begin by transplanting the northern plains to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where we find Ft. Lincoln about a day's ride from the Little Big Horn battle site.

As was the cavalry custom back then, forts are left almost entirely deserted when the troops go into the field. When Capt. Benson enters the fort, he finds Capt. Reynold's widow, who apparently read the Indians' wire report on the teletype immediately after the battle, for she knew all the details even before the surviving cavalry returned from the battlefield.

The returning survivors include Harry Carey, Jr. playing bugler John Martin, who in reality was immigrant Giovanni Martini, who the real Capt. Benteen complained could barely speak English.

For the sake of the film, the battle inquiry takes place a couple of days afterward rather than the several years in real life. Benson volunteers to lead the burial detail after the inquiry. On the ride to the battlefield he engages in hand-to-hand combat with a white man dressed as an Indian. You see, the Indians decided they enjoyed the Sierra Nevada, er, the Big Horn area and wanted to stay. Surely the U.S Army would leave them in peace now that they had massacred several companies of cavalry. (In reality they fled post-haste.)

Upon arriving at the battlefield, instead of finding naked and mutilated bodies as at the real battle site, Benson finds the Indians have thoughtfully prepared a Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Sorry, I just can't go on further.

14 of 25 people found this review helpful.
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